Irregular tessellated building units

Abstract

An irregular, tessellated building unit comprises x primary elements, wherein x is an integer equal to or greater than 1. The primary element is a rotational tessellation having a plural pairs of sides extending in a generally radial direction from plural vertices, respectively. In each pair, the two sides are rotationally spaced by an angle that is divided evenly into 360 degrees. Preferably, all of the sides are irregularly shaped, but one or more sides could be wholly or partially straight. Optionally, spacers are provided on the sides of each unit. A wide variety of units may be constructed having different numbers and arrangements of primary elements. As all the units are combinations of primary elements, they readily mate with each other. A surface covering comprises a multiplicity of units assembled to form a continuous surface without overlap between units and without substantial gaps between units. A structure, such as a wall or column can be formed of building units of the invention. Because of the irregular side configurations, and different sizes and shapes of individual units, the resulting surface or structure has a natural, non-repeating pattern appearance. Optionally, minor surface and edges variations are made from unit to unit to further enhance the natural appearance of the surface covering or structure.

1. A tessellated surface covering or structure comprised of a multiplicity of units, each of said units having at least one face and plural sides, each said side having a projection recessed from the face and a visible edge at the face of each unit; the side edge of each unit being irregularly shaped; the side projections of each unit defining a primary rotational element comprised of three pairs of sides, each pair of sides extending from a respective vertex, the sides of each pair being substantial rotational images of each other and being rotationally spaced from each other by an angle of 360 degrees divided by n, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2; side projections of each said unit being adapted to mate with adjacent said units in the surface covering or structure, gaps of variable width being defined between the visible edges of adjacent units, such that the surface covering or structure has a natural appearance. 
     
     
       2. A tessellated surface covering or structure as in  claim 1 , wherein one of said pairs of sides has a length that is different from the length of the other pairs of sides. 
     
     
       3. A tessellated surface covering or structure as in  claim 1 , wherein said units are molded concrete, a first portion of said units have a molded irregularity in the face of each unit, and a second portion of said units have a molded irregularity in the face of each unit that is different from that of the first portion of units. 
     
     
       4. A tessellated surface covering or structure having a natural, random appearance comprised of a multiplicity of units,
 each of said units having at least one face, 
 each of said units having three pairs of sides, 
 each of said sides having at least one spacer recessed from said face, said spacers defining a primary rotational element, whereby the sides of each pair of sides are substantial rotational images of each other and are rotationally spaced from each other by an angle of 360 degrees divided by n, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, 
 the spacers of each unit being adapted to mate with adjacent said units in said surface covering or structure, 
 each said side having a visible edge, and 
 gaps being defined between the visible edges of adjacent units in the surface covering, the gaps having variable widths. 
 
     
     
       5. A tessellated surface covering or structure having a natural, random appearance comprised of a multiplicity of units,
 each of said units being molded concrete, 
 each of said units having at least one face with a molded surface irregularity, the molded surface irregularity of a portion of said units being different from the molded surface irregularity of another portion of said units, 
 each of said units having three pairs of sides, the sides in each pair of sides being of substantially the same length and being rotation images of each other, the sides of one pair being of a different length than the sides of another of said pairs of sides, 
 each of said sides having at least one spacer recessed from said face, said spacers defining a primary rotational element, 
 the spacers of each unit being adapted to mate with adjacent said units in said surface covering or structure, 
 each side of each of said units having a jagged visible edge, and 
 gaps of variable width being defined between the visible edges of adjacent units in the surface covering or structure. 
 
     
     
       6. A tessellated surface covering or structure as in  claim 5 , wherein each said side comprises plural straight line segments, each segment being angled relative to adjacent segments.